Revelation: The River of Life

Author’s Thoughts

Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:1 The messenger showed me a pure river of life, its waters clear a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb,

King James

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

What is the “Tree of Life”?

Author’s Thoughts

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:1–2 The messenger showed me a pure river of life, its waters clear a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, down the main street of the city. The Tree of Life in the midst of the river yielded a different fruit every month, and its leaves were for the healing of the multitudes.

King James

Revelation 22:1–2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

What had brought a curse upon the land? Why was the curse removed?

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Genesis 3:17 “Adam,” God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree the I told you was forbidden, the ground is cursed. For all you life, you will struggle to gain the fruit from it.

Revelation 22:3 The land was no longer under a curse, but the throne of God and the Lamb were there. His servants will worship him.

King James

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

What does the name “written on their foreheads” signify?

Author’s Thoughts

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:4 They will see him face-to-face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

King James

Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

The Egyptians could not see one another, and they never left their homes. But all the Israelites had light in their homes.

Revelation 22:5 The light of the sun or a lamp will not be needed, for there will be no night there. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever.

King James

Exodus 10:21–23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

How do we hear God and follow him?

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:6–7 “These words are absolute truth, entirely trustworthy,” the messenger said. “The Lord God, who spoke through the mouths of his prophets, has sent his messenger to show his servants what will happen. Tell them the Lord is coming soon. God will bless everyone who heeds the prophetic words of this scroll.”

King James

Revelation 22:6–7 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

After his worship had been rejected by one messenger, why was John inclined to repeat that practice?

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Revelation 19:10 I bowed to the ground before him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. Like you and others who have the testimony of Jesus, I am God’s servant. Worship him. For the spirit of prophecy bears witness of Jesus.”

Revelation 22:8–9 After hearing and seeing all this, I bowed to the ground in reverence before the messenger who had shown me these things. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. Worship God. I am God’s servant like you and your prophetic brothers and all who heed the message of this scroll.

King James

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 22:8–9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

If the words of Revelation are not to be kept secret, why are they difficult to understand?

Author’s Thoughts

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:10 These prophetic words are not to be kept secret, for they will soon be fulfilled.

King James

Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Why might filthy-minded people be left to stay that way?

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Revelation 22:11 The wicked, filthy-minded people can stay that way, but let the righteous always be righteous and holy.”

King James

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

What kinds of rewards will people receive?

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Revelation 22:12–14 A voice said, “Look, I am coming soon to reward people according to their deeds. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are those who are washed and made clean, who have access to the Tree of Life and may enter the gates into the city.

King James

Revelation 22:12–14 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Why are the detestable people outside the city and not somewhere else?

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Revelation 22:15 The detestable people are outside the city—fortune tellers, prostitutes, murderers, idolaters, and liars.

King James

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

How is Jesus both the ancestor and the descendant of David?

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Revelation 22:16 I am Jesus, who sent my messenger to speak to the churches concerning these things. I am the ancestor and the descendant of David. I am the bright and morning star.

King James

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

What makes Jesus the “bright and morning star”?

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Revelation 22:16 I am Jesus, who sent my messenger to speak to the churches concerning these things. I am the ancestor and the descendant of David. I am the bright and morning star.

King James

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

To whom is the “Come” invitation extended?

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Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let those who are listening say, ‘Come.’ All those who are thirsty may come. Everyone may drink freely from the living water.”

King James

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Why would anyone want to change the Revelation message?

Author’s Thoughts

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Revelation 22:18 I declare that anyone who changes the message I have written will suffer the plagues described in the scroll.

King James

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Why is the penalty so severe for those who dismiss the Revelation message?

Author’s Thoughts

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:19 If anyone says these words are untrue or unimportant, God will remove that name from the Book of Life. That person cannot enter the holy city or receive the rewards described in this scroll.

King James

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

What assurances do we have that Jesus really is “coming soon”?

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Author’s Paraphrase

Revelation 22:20–21 The One responsible for this revelation says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” And I say, “So let it be! Come now, Lord Jesus.” May the unmerited favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

King James

Revelation 22:20–21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.